System and method for delivering and managing contents in multiple metaverse

ABSTRACT

Provided are a system and method for delivering and managing contents in multiple metaverses. The system includes a plurality of metaverses and a multiverse management platform. The plurality of metaverses include first and second metaverses providing different mixed reality environments to allow a user to perform various business activities using contents. The multiverse management platform supports a teleport between the first and second metaverses, converts values of the contents used in the first metaverse into contents usable in the second metaverse, and performs integrated management of the plurality of metaverses to allow the converted contents to be used in the second metaverse through the teleport.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0064933, filed on Jul. 16, 2009, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following disclosure relates to a system and method for delivering and managing contents in multiple metaverses, and in particular, to a system and method for delivering and managing game contents such as avatars and characters in a multiverse environment including multiple metaverses that are virtual spaces such as SecondLife.

BACKGROUND

A core megatrend of forthcoming future society lies in establishing social networks in which users directly participate, thereby allowing users to engage in an all-encompassing field of activities including educational, economic, and cultural activities, and enabling creative users to freely create, sell, develop and share characters and spaces in a mixed reality environment.

A metaverse is a representative service that provides the mixed reality environment described above. The metaverse denotes a three-dimensional virtual world that is a compound of two words, ‘meta’ indicative of processing and abstraction and ‘universe’ indicative of the real world. The metaverse, which is a more advanced concept than the term ‘virtual reality environment’, provides the above mixed reality environment in which a virtual world such as the World Wide Web and Internet has been integrated with the real world.

The metaverse may be infinitely expanded according to user participation, where characters, environments, and spaces may be freely selected. However, users are heavily burdened by extensive setup procedures, and only one virtual world of the same form exists. Accordingly, the development of service infrastructure that supports unlimited content scalability, enables creation of simple but high-level contents, and supports sharing of multiple virtual worlds is a growing requirement.

With regard to existing metaverses, management and transmission standards of contents are limited to a single metaverse environment, and are optimized for specific metaverse environments. Also, there are difficulties in management and transmission of contents in multiple metaverse environments in which users use different metaverse environments seamlessly.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, a system for delivering and managing contents in multiple metaverses includes: a plurality of metaverses including first and second metaverses providing different mixed reality environments to allow a user to perform various business activities using contents; and a multiverse management platform supporting a teleport between the first and second metaverses, converting values of the contents used in the first metaverse into contents usable in the second metaverse, and performing integrated management of the plurality of metaverses to allow the converted contents to be used in the second metaverse through the teleport.

In another general aspect, a method for delivering and managing contents in multiple metaverses includes: logging, by a user client system, onto a specific metaverse among a plurality of metaverses providing a plurality of mixed reality environments, respectively; delivering game content information on the specific metaverse to the user client system; verifying a final game content version by inquiring a content delivery history from an integrated content database when the game content information has already been delivered or there are no game contents in the user client system due to replacement of a client terminal; and requesting content delivery from the specific metaverse using the content information and receiving contents about the final content version to start a game.

In still another general aspect, a method for delivering and managing contents in multiple metaverses includes: building a plurality of metaverses including a first metaverse and a second metaverse providing mixed reality environments, respectively; requesting, by a user client system, a teleport from the first metaverse to the second metaverse from a multiverse platform; inquiring, by a multiverse content management unit, game contents retained by a user from the multiverse content database; inquiring, by the multiverse content management unit, content negotiation rules corresponding to the game contents of the first metaverse to convert and map the game contents of the first metaverse into game contents usable in the second metaverse; and requesting, by the multiverse content management unit, the second metaverse to deliver the converted and mapped game contents of the second metaverse to the user client system.

Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a content delivery and management system in multiple metaverse environments according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a game content management structure based on a multiple metaverse for managing contents of the respective metaverses according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for delivering contents of a metaverse when a user logs onto a specific metaverse, in content delivery based on multiple metaverses according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for managing game contents according to teleports between metaverses according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative size and depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. Accordingly, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.

There may be various vendors such as SecondLife and OpenSim, providing metaverse servers for managing various activities in a virtual space. Integrated implementation methods for content management and delivery in a mixed reality environment in which the metaverse servers exist in plurality are provided.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a content delivery and management system in multiple metaverse environments according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, a content delivery and management system 500 in a multiple metaverse environment (hereinafter, referred as content delivery and management system) may include a user client system 100, a plurality of metaverse servers 200, and a multiverse management platform 300.

The user client system 100 may allow a user to perform business activities using entertainments such as games and shopping and various contents by connecting to the plurality of metaverse servers 200 through the multiverse management platform 300. For example, the user client system 100, which is a network-capable terminal, may download game-related data from the metaverse servers 200 to execute a game, and may perform a game engine function such as graphic rendering.

The metaverse servers 200 may provide a plurality of mixed reality environment services in a virtual reality space such as SecondLife, based on multiple metaverses. In the present embodiment, although a game content delivery and management system 500 based on multiverse is described as including two metaverses, the game content delivery and management system 500 may include three or more metaverses.

Specifically, the metaverse server may include a communication channel unit 305 connected to the user client system 100 through a wire/wireless channel, a user server 210, an asset server 220, and an inventory server 230, and a metaverse database 240. The user server 210 may take charge of a login process including user authentication for accessing the metaverse. The asset server 220 and the inventory server 230 may manage game data necessary for game execution and game contents such as user's avatars and user-created items.

The multiverse management platform 300, which is a system for managing a plurality of metaverses, may support teleports between the respective metaverse servers 200, and may manage and deliver contents. For this, the multiverse management platform 300 may include, but not limited to, a multiverse user management unit 310 and a multiverse content management unit 330. The multiverse management platform 300 may further include a grid manager system for managing a plurality of metaverse as a separate management module.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a game content management structure based on a multiple metaverse for managing contents of the respective metaverses according to an exemplary embodiment. For convenience of explanation, a game content management structure using a metaverse A shown in FIG. 1 may be described in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, a multiverse user management unit 310 may manage an integrated user DB 320. A multiverse content management unit 330 may manage an integrated content DB 340. Also, the multiverse content management unit 330 may manage a content negotiation rule DB 350 for content conversion in teleports between respective metaverses.

The multiverse content management unit 330 may grant a globally unique identifier GUID1 that is unique in a multiverse, to identify contents managed by the metaverse A in the multiverse management platform 300 based on multiple metaverses.

A unique identifier UID shown in FIG. 2 may be utilized as a unique identifier in the metaverse server 200. However, the unique identifier UID may not have uniqueness in an environment including a plurality of metaverses. Accordingly, the globally unique identifier GUID1 may be newly introduced to identify the plurality of metaverses as described above.

The globally unique identifier GUID1 may be a form of adding metaverse IDs to content identifiers in existing individual metaverses. The multiverse content management unit 330 may manage a globally unique identifier regarding contents delivered to a user. This may reduce limitations such as duplicate data management according to integrated content management and system load according to large-capacity data management.

The multiverse content management unit 330 may receive content addresses of a specific metaverse server from the integrated content DB 340 as a form of globally unique identifier GUID. Here, the content addresses may include a metaverse identifier and a content identifier. The multiverse content management unit 330 may first check metaverse information, i.e., information for distinguishing metaverses through the content address, and may deliver corresponding content ID to the metaverse server to allow the contents to be delivered to the user client system.

The content negotiation rule DB 350 may be a storage including conversion rules about contents between the respective metaverses. For example, the content negotiation rule DB 350 may include rules about what an item that is purchased in the metaverse A is converted into in the metaverse B and what value of item may be purchased. According to the conversion rules described herein, for example, when the currency unit of the metaverse A is dollar ($), and the currency unit of the metaverse B is won (

), 300 unit value of the metaverse A may become 300×1200 unit value in the metaverse B. That is, negotiation rules are determined regarding different values between the metaverses, and thus the values of contents such as game items may be converted according to the negotiation rules.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for delivering contents of a metaverse when a user logs onto a specific metaverse, in content delivery based on multiple metaverses according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3 along with FIG. 2, the user client system 100 may also log onto a specific metaverse through the multiverse management platform 300. That is, the user client system 100 may log onto one of the metaverse A and the metaverse B. When a user logs onto a specific metaverse, the user may teleport to another metaverse.

In operation S301, the user client system 100 may deliver login information to a specific metaverse using a metaverse login function or a metaverse teleport function of the multiverse management platform 300.

In operation S302, validity of the login information (user information) may be verified in the integrated user DB 320 by the multiverse user management unit 310.

When the login information is verified as being valid in operation S303, the user client system 100 having the valid login information may receive content information about a corresponding metaverse to which the user client system intends to connect in operation S303.

In operation S304, the multiverse content management unit 330 may check whether the received content information about the corresponding metaverse exists.

If there is no received content information, the content delivery history of the integrated content DB 340 may be inquired in operation S306.

If there is no delivery history from the metaverse, in operation S307, content delivery is newly requested from the metaverse.

If there is a content delivery history, or there are no contents in a client-side system due to replacement of client terminal, in operation S305, the content delivery history is inquired from the integrated content DB 340 to check the final content version.

In operation S307, the content delivery is requested from the metaverse using the content information, and contents are delivered to start game, e.g., by checking whether the latest version has been delivered.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for managing game contents according to teleports between metaverses according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4 along with FIG. 2, when a user intends to move from the metaverse A to the metaverse B, contents of the metaverse A may be converted into contents of the metaverse B through negotiation between the respective metaverses.

In operation S401, a user-side system may request a teleport function from the metaverse A to the metaverse B from the multiverse management platform 300 (see FIG. 2).

In operation S402, the multiverse content management unit 330 may inquire game contents retained by a user from the multiverse content DB 340 according to the request described above. In operation S403, the multiverse content management unit 330 may search the content negotiation rule DB 350 corresponding to the game contents of the metaverse A, and may convert/map the searched game contents into game contents usable in the metaverse B.

In operation S404, the multiverse content management unit 330 may request the metaverse B to deliver the converted/mapped contents of the metaverse B to the user.

A number of exemplary embodiments have been described above. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A system for delivering and managing contents in multiple metaverses, comprising: a plurality of metaverses comprising first and second metaverses providing different mixed reality environments to allow a user to perform various business activities using contents; and a multiverse management platform supporting a teleport between the first and second metaverses, converting values of the contents used in the first metaverse into contents usable in the second metaverse, and performing integrated management of the plurality of metaverses to allow the converted contents to be used in the second metaverse through the teleport.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user client system downloading the contents comprising game software from the metaverse and executing the downloaded game software, wherein the user client system logs onto the first metaverse through the multiverse management platform and teleports from the first meta verse to the second metaverse, using the teleport while logging onto the first metaverse.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiverse management platform comprises: an integrated user database storing user login information; and a multiverse user management unit searching the integrated user database to verify validity of the user login information.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiverse management platform comprises: an integrated content database storing content addresses of the first and second metaverses; and a multiverse content management unit receiving the stored content addresses as a form of Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) and checking information of the first and second metaverses that is received as the form of GUID.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the multiverse content management unit checks the information of the first and second metaverses through the identifiers of the first and second metaverses and the first and second content addresses comprising the first and second content identifiers, and deliver the content identifiers to a specific metaverse to deliver contents of the specific metaverse to the user client system.
 6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a content negotiation rule database storing conversion rules of contents between the respective metaverses, wherein the multiverse content management unit inquires contents retained by the user from the integrated content database and inquires content negotiation rules corresponding to the contents of the first metaverse stored in the content negotiation rule database to convert and map the contents of the first metaverse into contents usable in the second metaverse.
 7. A method for delivering and managing contents in multiple metaverses, comprising: logging, by a user client system, onto a specific metaverse among a plurality of metaverses providing a plurality of mixed reality environments, respectively; delivering game content information on the specific metaverse to the user client system; verifying a final game content version by inquiring a content delivery history from an integrated content database when the game content information has already been delivered or there are no game contents in the user client system due to replacement of a client terminal; and requesting content delivery from the specific metaverse using the content information and receiving contents about the final content version to start a game.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the logging of the specific metaverse comprises delivering, by the user client system, login information to the specific metaverse using a teleport between the metaverses.
 9. A method for delivering and managing contents in multiple metaverses, comprising: building a plurality of metaverses comprising a first metaverse and a second metaverse providing mixed reality environments, respectively; requesting, by a user client system, a teleport from the first metaverse to the second metaverse from a multiverse platform; inquiring, by a multiverse content management unit, game contents retained by a user from the multiverse content database; inquiring, by the multiverse content management unit, content negotiation rules corresponding to the game contents of the first metaverse to convert and map the game contents of the first metaverse into game contents usable in the second metaverse; and requesting, by the multiverse content management unit, the second metaverse to deliver the converted and mapped game contents of the second metaverse to the user client system.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising building a content negotiation rule database storing the content negotiation rules to inquire the content negotiation rules by the multiverse content management unit. 